I have no problem with Sean Bean's acting skill, but I don't think he portrayed a good Ned Stark - as written by GRRM. Just personal opinion, of course, but he came across to me as too "emo".

Ned is coldness personified. Stern, cold, aloof, somewhat arrogant, cool under pressure with a great pokerface. Sean Bean always looked like he was about to cry. In almost every scene, I just couldn't see him as the proud Lord Stark.

Congratulations to Peter Dinklage! Listening to Howard Stern right now and he says he's going to start watching when he can get the whole season. Awesome. If he starts harping about this show it could hit the stratosphere.

Dinklage mentioned GRRM in several post-awards interviews. He also says that he didn't mention as many people as he should, and also forgot his own agent

Dinklage is officially listed in the show credits as a Supporting Actor (the 'and Peter Dinklage' bit at the end). The 'stars' (the 'main actors') for Season 1 I believe were Sean Bean, Lena Headey and possibly Mark Addy and Emilia Clarke. Who gets credited and how is a labyrinthe process involving contracts, screen-time, prior roles and so on.

As I recall it, Tyrion's presence- already quite large in GoT- increases throughout books 2 and 3, so that coupled with Peter's Emmy win (very well-deserved, I was delighted when he won. I really watched the Emmy's just for that particular award. Guy Pearce's acceptance speech was well worth the watch, though) could lead to him being credited as a lead in Season 2. But that's all speculation on my part; I suppose we'll just have to wait for Wert to give us the official update.